How much should I spend on a smoker for Cajun smoking?
Cajun smoking has become famous as the years have gone by. The Cajun way of cooking food has been accepted and loved by many food enthusiasts. The amazing cuisine offers foodies many ways by which they can enjoy some delicious recipes. Cajun smoking has also made a name for itself in a very short period of time. With such amazing reception that Cajun smoking has received, more and more people are now trying Cajun smoking.
This leads us to our question- How much should a food enthusiast like you spend on a smoker for Cajun smoking? Well, the answer depends upon the type of smoker, the meat that you would want to cook, and the level of experience you have with Cajun cuisine. Different factors play a part in deciding your budget for a smoker for Cajun smoking. We will be discussing all those factors and help you decide the right amount for you to invest in a smoker
Smoking meat to eat amazing food has been in trend from the time when we humans discovered the right way to make fire. There are many different reasons as to why smoking as a way of cooking has still survived. We will first be discussing the benefits of smoking meat and why it is vital to smoke your meat in a good quality smoker. From then, we will hop on to the question in hand. So, let us begin.
Benefits of Smoking
The art of smoking has been known to man from the time he discovered fire. Smoking fish and meat have been a part of many different cultures all over the world. Not only the older civilizations loved the smoking method to make food, they soon realized that it was also a great way to preserve food.
They came to know that smoking food helps the moisture to dry out. The allows the meat to become safe for consumption even days after it was made.
Smoking your food has many clear benefits and many indirect advantages. Smoking can help add flavor to your food. It also helps you in making the food healthier and crispier. A food enthusiast who has had the experience of eating different cuisines knows the blissful taste of smoked meat. The many different benefits of smoking your meat that you should keep in mind while buying a smoker are as follows.
The Flavor
Cajun smoking will help you to give a very distinct and an incredibly unique flavor to the food that you are going to make. The kind of taste imparted to meat by Cajun smoking cannot be matched by any other way of cooking. Trust us, we have tried!
Smoking melts the fat and you get an absolutely delicious dish which can easily make you lick your fingers. The smell works like a cherry on the top of the cake and makes you crave for more Cajun dishes in no time.
Enhanced Smells
Hardwoods play a huge role in making the whole process of Cajun smoking all the easier. They add flavor to the meat and also help in enhancing its aroma. Depending upon the type of wood that you are using, you can get different kinds of flavor. You will notice that as the wood keeps on burning it releases many aromas in the smoke.
Smoking food also helps you to make an acidic coating all around the meat. This will make it delightfully tasty and will give your meat a very striking appearance.
If you do the smoking correctly, you can see a smoke ring of pink color, which would be present inside the coating. You can rejoice if you see the ring, since it is a signature sign of a meat that has been properly cooked and smoked to perfection.
The main hardwoods used in smoking are: Oak, Hickory, Maple, Mesquite, Pecan, Apple, Alder, and Cherry.
Preserving Your Meat
Smoking meat preserves the food way better than any other method. It will help you in ensuring that your meat stays fresh for a long time. You will be able to enjoy the taste of the meal and have a great time with friends. It has many amazing ways by which a layer of acidic coating develops around the meat surface to make it tastier and healthier.
The Safety Of The Food That You Cook
When Cajun smoking your food, the whole process of Cajun smoking makes the environment around the meat very harsh for most of the bacteria to grow. The coating of acid around the meat also makes sure that your meat is fresh as ever.
It Is Filled With Fun
This is a no brainer. We all know that smoking food is present in our DNA. Our ancestors used to smoke food soon after the discovery of fire. You also get to smell the amazing aroma of the food that you are Cajun smoking. Not only is the process of smoking ingrained in our DNA, we also love to combine it with cooking meat.
Smoking Meat Does Wonders To Your Health
We are not overselling it. Smoking is a great way to make sure that your meat is evenly cooked. It is a great way to make sure that your meat gets the right flavor and can make the whole process worth your time and efforts. It also helps in adding lean protein to meats such as fish, turkey, game meat, etc.
It Is A Versatile Process
The whole process of Cajun smoking your meat is rather versatile. You can have many chances and do the whole process with much fun. As you become better, the process of Cajun smoking will become something you will cherish and enjoy doing.
These are some of the reasons why you should buy a smoker for Cajun smoking and try smoking meat by yourself. These benefits are the reason that many foodies have started using Cajun smoking to make their food all the more appealing.
We now come to the different types of smokers that you can buy to make Cajun smoking a part of your kitchen. The thing you should keep in mind is that there are many factors that decide the right smoker for you. The biggest one being the amount of time you have dedicated to practice the art of Cajun smoking. The experience of the cook plays a major role, along with the recipes that they want to prepare.
Types Of Smokers
Stick Burners
Stick burner smokers are one of the most basic smokers that you can use for Cajun smoking. Stick burner smokers, also known as offset smokers, are smokers that rely solely on wood as their fuel, as opposed to gas, charcoal, or electricity. High-quality, offset smokers are mostly custom made with heavy-duty materials like thick stainless steel and are quite expensive.
Stick burners are extensively designed with the firebox hanging moderately low and off-set from the main cooking chamber with a smokestack on the opposite end.
A stick burner smoker is a welcome departure from the more approachable backyard smokers like pellet smokers, propane smokers, charcoal smokers, and electric smokers—some of which rely on starter fuels like lighter fluid and propane and feature thermostats for easier temperature control.
The cost of a stick burner smoker ranges around $400 – $600 USD. You can use this amazing smoker to fulfil your desires of making some amazing dishes in your home. Cajun cuisine will have you licking your fingers in no time!
Charcoal Smokers
We all admit that making your food using Cajun smoking, and using a charcoal smoker for it, has got a certain ring to it. Since it requires little experience and can help even a newbie to make good food in no time.
Telling our friends about the amazing time we spent on cooking is always great. But you need not always spend so much time to Cajun smoke meat. If you use a good charcoal smoker that is taken care of, then you can leave it on its own as your food gets ready.
Charcoal smokers can prove to be a great asset for the foodie in you. The amazing recipes that you can prepare by using a charcoal smoker are endless. You can buy charcoal smokers for around $700 – $900 USD. There are many other brands that can allow you to have one or two more features. However, with around $1,000 USD, you can get the most of any charcoal smoker.
For the foodies who want the best of the best, we will talk about the Char-griller Akorn Kamado.
Kamado is a Japanese cooking stove. It has been in use for more than three thousand years. It imparts amazing flavor to the meat that you Cajun smoke. Kamados are also loved because they provide versatility and help you to reach the right temperature in a very short period of time. Akorn is a classic modern version of this egg-shaped vessel.
A classic Kamado will weigh two hundred pounds and may cost you something around $1,200 USD. Kamado will cost a quarter and weighs half of it.
The notable features of this equipment include a cast iron grill which has a vast cooking space. More than three hundred square inches to be specific. It is also good for Cajun smoking because it has dampers, which are adjustable and can help you to control temperature when you are Cajun smoking your meat. There is an option to add more accessories to it too.
Another great smoker that can be used is the Oklahoma Joe Bronco Drum. The drum is nothing but a drum smoker that is upright. It includes a handle, side shelf and wagon spoke wheels. It is a great buy and can help you immensely in the process of Cajun smoking.
Bronco drum has an amazing airflow control system. It has a pipe which runs outside the drum and is also topped by a cap. This cap has the height which is more or less similar to the side tray. It functions by opening allowing air to funnel down towards the drum’s bottom.
The purpose of the gasket is rather simple. It allows you to wedge a thermometer cable in the smoker that you are using without causing it to break the seal. The different components that are present inside the drum, like the charcoal basket, the ash pan, the grate, are all easily removable. You also get three stainless steel meat hangers along with getting nine meat hooks. You also get a chrome plated lifting tool which will help you in adjusting the charcoal basket and assist you in removing the meat.
The gasket is great as it helps you by allowing for a thermometer cable that can easily be wedged in the smoker without having you worry about the seal being broken. All the components, along with the charcoal basket, are removable. It comes with three stainless steel
It costs around $1,500 USD and can actually be a steal, considering the features it provides to a foodie. You can easily smoke your meat without a care in the world and enjoy the taste of some delicious Cajun cuisine in the comfort of your home.
Gas Smokers
Let us now talk about the budget friendly gas smoker. Gas smokers are the most affordable type of smokers that you will find. With a price as low as $400 USD, you can buy these smokers for Cajun smoking. These smokers will help you make the best Cajun cuisine without being too heavy on your wallet. For people who have just started Cajun smoking, these smokers are the perfect choice.
Since they do not cost much, a beginner can start their journey by using these smokers and learn the art of Cajun smoking step by step. Once you are satisfied with your work and want to explore newer territories, you may switch to other kinds of smokers.
Pellet Smokers
A wood fire pellet grill helps you in grilling the food with ease and along with less smoke. It is very similar and like a convection oven, and it cooks food evenly. Also, pellet grills and smokers excel over traditional grilling options because they give off less acrid smoke as compared to conventional grills and smokers. This makes them a desirable purchase for people who want to taste Cajun food in their homes.
There are different varieties of pellet smokers available in the market. You should buy the one which suits your needs and helps you excel at Cajun smoking. A range of around $400 – $800 USD should suffice to buy a good pellet smoker. You should choose a smoker that offers ample space to keep your meat and allows even cooking.
Electric Smokers
We will now be talking about electric smokers and the amazing benefits they have. They have many advantages and unless you reside in an area which can be prone to power outages, you can use electric smokers. They are a great choice if you want to be the master of the whole cooking process. Electric smokers are mostly used by foodies who know what they are doing. You should be a pro at Cajun smoking before using electric smokers.
An electric smoker helps you in cooking food by using the heat which is created using electricity. There are many vents, which help in controlling temperature. The bulk of this work is essentially done by different heating equipment. What that means is that you need to spare some time so that the equipment can heat up and start the process of cooking.
Another amazing aspect is, they are relatively cheap. Yes, you read that right. $200 USD is the minimum amount you need to spend to buy an electric smoker. Though you can go for more expensive brands that could cost you a little over $500 USD. But a range of $400 – $600 USD is enough for a good buy.
Kettle Grills
Kettle grills are another amazing variety of smokers that you can buy for Cajun smoking. They are easy to operate and do not require much practice. You can ease into them without much effort and produce some amazing Cajun cuisine to enjoy. They can be as cheap as $150 USD or can go as expensive as $600 USD. It all depends upon you and what your needs are. They are also a good choice for beginners.
These are some smokers that you can buy for Cajun smoking. A price range of $300 – $500 USD is sufficient if you are a beginner who wants to try their hand at Cajun smoking. Smokers above $1,000 USD should be bought only if you have ample practice. So, buy the best smoker for your budget and start Cajun smoking your meat to perfection!